Mail-collection system



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D. A. GRAY.

Patented Jan. ,11, 1898.

. MAILA OLLBCTAION SYSTEM.

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D. A. GRAY. MAIL GOLLEGTIUN SYSTEM. No. 596,993. Patented Jan. 11,1898.

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DENNIS A. GRAY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

MAIL-COLLECTION SYSTEM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 596,993, dated January 11, 1898. Application led inne 3,1189'7. Serial No. 639,302, (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, DENNIS A. GRAY, of Boston, in the county of Suiolk and State of Massachusetts,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail-Collection Systems; and I do yhereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to a system for the collection of mail; and the obj ect of the saine is to so construct letter-boxes and place the same in electrical connection with the post office that said boxes cannot be opened ex cepting by operating the keyboard at the post-office, which unlocks the boxes through the medium of electrically-controlled locks.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure l is a diagrammatical View showing the letter-boxes in communication With the keyboard. Fig. 2 is a detail view of the letter-box, and Fig. 3 is a detail view of the lock for the letter-box. Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic vienr with parts in section. Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view with parts in section, showing the above arrangement.

Referring to the numerals on the drawings, 1 indicates a box which is provided With an inner door 2 and an outer door 3, the inner door opening into the letter-compartment, into which letters are inserted through the slot 4Cv of the box. This inner door is provided with the lock, which is controlled by electricity, which lock may be of any desired construction. In the present instance it consists of a sliding bolt, a magnet, and armature, the same being electrically connected with the keyboard 5 at the post-ofiice, which keyboard is provided with push-buttons 6, each push-button adapted to establish a circuit between one oi' the letter-boxes and the post-cnice, suitable batteries being provided, so that when said button is depressed the bolt is withdrawn from its keeper and the inner door permitted to be opened. There are as many keys upon the keyboard as there are boxes, each one lettered or numbered to designate the letter-box.

The outer door is controlled by an ordinary lock, the key of Which is carried by the inailcollector. Within each box is a-push-bntton 7, Which is in electrical connection With an indicating-bell 7" at the post-office. The mailcollector when he reaches the first box opens the outer door and presses the pushbutton, which sounds the indicating-bell at the postoce. The person having charge of the keyboard at the post-office then depresses the key or push button corresponding to the number of the box, and the inner door is then unlocked. The mail is then collected and the box closed and the same operation repeated at the next box.

From the above description it will be seen that I have devised an improved system of collection whereby the boxes cannot be opened excepting by the operator at the postoilice, thus protecting the mail from loss by theft and also informing the ocial at the post-oiiice when the collection is made.

I-Iaving thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination of an electric circuit, a letter-box having an inner and an outer door, a lock carried by the inner door which is included in said circuit, a manually-operated lock for the outer door, a keyboard located at the central station which is also in said circuit, an indicating device at the central station, which is also included in said circuit,V

and means for operating said device from the letter-box, substantially as described.

2. A letter-box having an inner and outer door, an electricallycontrolled lock for the inner door, means for operating said lock from a desired point, an electrically controlled indicating device at the point of operation of the lock, and means for operating the same from the letter-box, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specilication in the presence of tivo subscribing witnesses.

DENNIS A. GRAY. Witnesses z A. W. Fisnnn, WM. H. Dornen. 

